Richard Barrow has joined Farmington Natural Stone as marketing director, becoming the fourth generation of the Barrow family involved in running the company.

Farmington quarry limestone in the Cotswolds and produce natural stone fireplaces and building stone and masonry.

Richard worked at the quarry in production capacities before leaving to sell Rolls Royce cars. Latterly he has worked together with his wife Georgina, to set up a successful natural paints company.

Richard, 34, is the great grandson of Charles Deans Barrow who in 1901 bought the quarry plus the entire village of Farmington.

Richard says: "Having cut my commercial teeth on selling at the very top end of the motor industry, then experienced all the trials and tribulations of developing and nationally marketing our own range of natural colour paints, I am now looking forward to working with the strong and established network of dealers and customers that Farmington has built up."

The present chairman of Farmington, John Barrow, took over the business in 1968 on the death of his father. Under his tenure the company has expanded significantly and its products are not only sold throughout the UK but have also been exported to Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA.